The Catskill Chronicle

School ranks among nation’s top communities for support of music education

MONTICELLO, NY. (May 20, 2014) – The NAMM Foundation (National Association of Music Merchants) has recognized Monticello Central School District for its outstanding commitment to music education with a Best Communities for Music Education (BCME) designation.

In its 15th year, Best Communities for Music Education affirms school districts that have demonstrated exceptional efforts toward maintaining music education as part of the schools’ core curriculum. This is the sixth year Monticello has been recognized.

The BCME survey requires districts to answer detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program and community music-making programs. Responses were verified with school officials and reviewed by The Institute for Educational Research and Public Service of Lawrence, Kansas, an affiliate of the University of Kansas.

The announcement of this year’s Best Communities for Music Education designation brings attention to the importance of keeping music education part of school’s core education and music’s vital role in student success in school.

The Best Communities for Music Education program plays an important part of the NAMM Foundation’s efforts to make music education part of the core curriculum assuring that the benefits of music making are available to every child. Numerous studies have demonstrated that studying music can boost academic and social skills, lower disciplinary action and keep kids in school.

About NAMM Foundation: The NAMM Foundation is a nonprofit organization supported in part by the National Association of Music Merchants and its nearly 9,000 members around the world with the mission of advancing active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving and public service programs from the international music products industry. For more information about the NAMM Foundation, please visit http://www.nammfoundation.org.